The Audi S6 is the high performance variant of the Audi A6, an executive car produced by German automaker Audi. It went on sale in 1994, shortly after the "A6" designation was introduced, replacing the "100" nameplate.

The original S6 (Ur-S6) was largely the same car as the outgoing, original Audi S4 (C4) (Ur-S4), with the only visible differences being new body-cladding and badging. In certain markets where the even-higher performance RS6 which is also based on the A6 is not sold, the S6 is the most powerful A6 trim there.

The S6, like all Audi "S" models, is fitted as standard with Audi's trademark quattro four-wheel drive (4WD) system, the S6 using the Torsen-based permanent 4WD.

Audi was restructuring their model lineup in early and mid-1990s, and in late 1994, began selling the fifth generation (C4) Audi 100 model, re-badged as the Audi A6. Wanting to keep a sports-saloon in their lineup, the company made small revisions to what was previously known as the Audi S4, renaming it the Audi S6; the S4 name would eventually be re-used for a completely different model derived from Audi's smaller Volkswagen Group B platform-based Audi A4. As this was the first S6 model from Audi, it is commonly referred to as the Ur-S6, derived from the German augmentive, "Ursprünglich" (meaning: original).

It was available as both a saloon/sedan (typ 4A5), and an "Avant" (typ 4A9) (estate/wagon) to European and United States customers, but only as a saloon in Canada, Asia and Australia. Audi's trademark "procon-ten" safety system was standard fitment.

Audi S6 Avant (C4) front view

Audi S6 Avant (C4) rear view

C4 powertrain

From its launch in late 1994, the Audi S6 was powered by a 2,226 cubic centimetres (135.8 cu in) turbocharged inline five-cylinder petrol engine (parts code prefix: 034, identification code: AAN) with a Bosch Motronic electronic engine control unit (ECU), producing a motive power output of 169 kilowatts (230 PS; 227 bhp) at 5,900 revolutions per minute (rpm), and 326 newton metres (240 lbft) at around 1,950 rpm, whilst consuming high octane "Super Plus" 98RON unleaded petrol. This powerful engine gave the S6 good performance with a top speed of 235 kilometres per hour (146.0 mph), and 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 6.7 seconds; with 160 km/h (99.4 mph) being reached in 17.5 seconds.

The vehicle was available with a standard six-speed manual transmission (five-speed only in North America), and Audi's dynamic Torsen T-1 quattro permanent four-wheel drive system.

Audi made a high-performance, 4.2 litre V8 engine (parts code prefix: 077, identification code: AEC) with a Bosch KE-Motronic ECU available as an option in the original European S4s, and made the decision to continue to do so with the S6, making a 213 kilowatts (290 PS; 286 bhp) version of the 4.2 available as an optional upgrade over the 2.2 litre inline five-cylinder turbo. Unlike the five-cylinder turbocharged version, the V8-powered S6 was supplied with a four-speed automatic transmission as standard, but kept the quattro four wheel drive. A six-speed manual gearbox was also available as an option.

Audi S6 PLUS

As a swan song to the C4 platform, an even more powerful, and very limited-production Audi S6 PLUS was briefly available to European customers. The S6 PLUS, developed by Audi's wholly owned high performance subsidiary, quattro GmbH, was available for sale during the 1997 model year only (production from June 1996 to October 1997). A total of 952 cars were produced–855 Avant, and 97 saloons.

It was powered by another version of the 32 valve (four valves per cylinder) 4.2 litre V8 engine (parts code prefix: 077, identification code: AHK, later to be seen in the Audi S8 as AKH). Audi's performance division reworked key parts of the internal combustion engine, increasing the motive power to 240 kilowatts (326 PS; 322 bhp). It was only available with a revised six-speed manual transmission (parts code prefix: 01E, identification code: DGU) (gear ratios - 1st: 3.500, 2nd: 1.889, 3rd: 1.320, 4th: 1.034, 5th: 0.857, 6th: 0.730), with a final drive ratio of 4.111.

Further revisions were made to the suspension, brakes and roadwheels. The front brake discs were enlarged to 323 millimetres (12.7 in) in diameter by 30 mm (1.18 in) thick. Standard roadwheels were 8Jx17 "Avus" cast aluminium alloy wheels, with an optional 7Jx16 alloy wheel for use with winter tyres was also available.

With so much power on tap, the S6 Plus saloon could reach 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) from a standstill in 5.6 seconds, with the Avant a tenth of a second slower at 5.7 seconds, making it comparable in terms of acceleration to vehicles like the Porsche 944 Turbo.

Hella xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps (still with the C4s triple bulb design) were available as an option.

C5 (Typ 4B, 1999 - 2003)

1999 Audi S6 Sedan front view

1999 Audi S6 Sedan rear view

Audi S6
(C5)

Overview

Production

1999–2003

Body and
chassis

Platform

Volkswagen
Group C5

Related

Audi
C5 A6,

Audi
C5 RS6

Powertrain

Engine

4.2
L V8 DOHC

Transmission

6-speed
manual,

5-speed
ZF 5HP24A tiptronic automatic

Dimensions

Wheelbase

2,759
mm (108.6 in)

Length

1999-2001:
4,833 mm (190.3 in)

2002-2003:
4,912 mm (193.4 in)

Width

1999-2001:
1,850 mm (72.8 in)

2002-2003:
1,933 mm (76.1 in)

Height

saloon:
1,443 mm (56.8 in),

1999-2001
Avant: 1,465 mm (57.7 in)

2002-03
Avant: 1,448 mm (57.0 in)

Curb weight

1,815
kg (4,001 lb) to

1,825
kg (4,023 lb)

In late 1997, Audi introduced an all-new range of Audi A6 models, based on the Volkswagen Group C5 platform. A new Audi S6, now officially known as the Audi S6 quattro appeared in 1999, to complement its A6 platform-mate. It was available in a four-door saloon/sedan and a five-door Avant (estate/wagon). In North America, the Avant bodystyle was the only version available. The vehicle could accelerate from standstill to 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in 5.7 seconds, and from 0 to 200 km/h (124.3 mph) in just 21.7 seconds. The top speed was electronically governed to 250 km/h (155.3 mph).

Audi RS 6 (C5)

A higher performance Audi RS 6 was also available from 2002 to 2004. It was built by Audi's high performance private subsidiary quattro GmbH. It used a twin-turbo ("biturbo") version of the 4.2 litre V8 engine (identification code: BCY). Power output was 331 kilowatts (450 PS; 444 bhp) at 5,700 to 6,400 (rpm), and torque was 560 newton metres (413 lbft) from 1,950 to 5,600 rpm. Transmission was a five-speed tiptronic automatic.

Wheels and tyres were upgraded to 255/40 ZR18 99Y XL, or 255/35 ZR19 96Y XL (5/15 arm design), and there was the "Dynamic Ride Control" (DRC) system available for the suspension, which featured diagonally interlinked shock absorbers to give better body control during extreme cornering, acceleration and braking. Compared to the standard S6, the suspension was lowered by 20 millimetres (0.79 in). The brake discs were ventilated and upgraded to 365 millimetres (14.37 in) at the front and 335 millimetres (13.19 in) at the rear.

The Audi S6 5.2 FSI quattro (Typ 4F) was introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in January.

The high-performance version of the C6 Audi A6, the S6 uses the Volkswagen Group C6 platform, and is available in saloon/sedan and Avant (estate/wagon) bodystyles. Factory production started in June 2006. A facelifted version of the S6 was released in late 2008 for the 2009 model year. In 2010, the S6 gained Audi's third-generation MMI electronics controller and real-time traffic information.

Audi S6 Avant front view

Audi S6 Avant rear view

C6 powertrain

The engine in the C6 S6 is an all-aluminium alloy 5,204 cubic centimetres (317.6 cu in) Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) 40-valve (four valves per cylinder) 90° V10 (parts code: 07L, identification code: BXA). Compared with the related 5.0 litre V10 found in the Lamborghini Gallardo, Audi's variant has a longer stroke and wider bore which increases the displacement of the engine so that it produces more torque at lower revs and is thus more suitable for the larger and heavier S6. It produces 320 kilowatts (435 PS; 429 bhp) at 6,800 rpm and 540 newton metres (398 lbft) of torque from 3,000 to 4,000 rpm. It uses twin chain-driven double overhead camshafts with variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust valves. The engine is managed by a Bosch Motronic MED 9.1 electronic engine control unit (ECU), which controls the mapped direct ignition, ten individual spark coils, common rail cylinder-direct sequential multi-point fuel injection, and drive-by-wire throttle.

The same engine is used in the latest Audi D3 S8, but in a higher state of tune where it develops 331 kilowatts (450 PS; 444 bhp), as the S6 is not to be positioned above the S8 in output. With the discontinuation of the S8 5.2 FSI after the 2009 model year and the RS 6 5.0 TFSI in late 2010, the S6 5.2 FSI and R8 5.2 FSI were the remaining Audi vehicles that have V10 engines. The S6 5.2 FSI was discontinued after the 2011 model year, shortly before the release of the 2012 Audi A6 (C7).

For the sprint from rest to 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph), the S6 saloon takes 5.2 seconds, with the quarter mile passing in 13.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 250 kilometres per hour (155.3 mph). However a test by Edmunds found that the S6 takes 5.7-seconds to reach 60 mph, a full second or so behind the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG (which are the S6's closest competitors in North America, since the RS6 is not sold there), and that the 2009 Audi A6 3.0 TFSI (a supercharged 3.0L V6) has almost equivalent performance to the S6 5.2 FSI. Yet, in a 2007 track test byRoad & Track, the C6 S6 went from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, while it covered the quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds. Despite its heft at 4,500 pounds, the S6 has quick reflexes and agility, even with Audi's highly regarded quattro system.

C6 other features

The S6 features two rows of five distinctive LED daytime running lamps (DRLs) along each side of the front bumper air intakes which indicates the 10-cylinder engine as a point of differentiation from other A6 models. Bi-Xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) adaptive headlights which swivel around corners complement the LED DRLs.

Audi S6 C6 interior

Audi S6 C6 seats

Audi RS 6 (C6)

Main article: Audi RS6.As with the previous generation, this C6 platform has also generated an RS 6 version available for the model years 2008 to 2010, again developed and produced by quattro GmbH. This latest version of the RS6 now includes a 5.0 litre (4,991 cubic centimetres (304.6 cu in)) 90° V10 twin-turbocharged ("biturbo"), Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) V10 engine, which produces 426 kilowatts (579 PS; 571 bhp) and 650 newton metres (479 lbft). Available in both Avant and saloon bodystyles, it is Audi's single most powerful car. Official performance figures for the 0-100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) sprint are 4.6 seconds for the Avant, with the saloon one tenth of a second quicker at 4.5 seconds.

C7 (2012-)

2013 Audi S6 front view

2013 Audi S6 rear view

Audi S6
(C6)

Overview

Production

2012-

Body and
chassis

Body style

4-door
sedan,

5-door
Avant (estate/wagon)

Platform

Volkswagen
Group C7

Related

Audi
C7 A6

Powertrain

Engine

4.0
L V8 DOHC Biturbo

Transmission

7-speed
dual clutch S tronic

Dimensions

Wheelbase

2,913
mm (114.7 in)

Length

4,940
mm (194.5 in)

Width

1,875
mm (73.8 in)

Height

1,468
mm (57.8 in)

The Audi S6 4.0 TFSI quattro and its mechanical twin S7 were launched as a 2013 models, a year after the C7 Audi A6 and Audi A7 were released.

The Audi S6 and S7 are powered by a 4.0L DOHC twin-turbo V8 engine mated to a 7-speed S-tronic Double Clutch Gearbox. This engine makes 420 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque, plus there is a cylinder-deactivation system and a stop-start system for improved fuel economy. The 2013 Audi A8 shares the same engine, while the 2012 Audi S8 has a variant of the powerplant in a higher state of tune making 520 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, both mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The V8 performance option for the regular Audi A6, found in the 2004-11 Audi A6 4.2 FSI, has been discontinued and the S6 takes over as the engine upgrade. The S6 now compares more closely with the BMW 550i and Mercedes-Benz E550, which also use twin-turbo V8 engines and have available all-wheel drive (the 2013 BMW 550i xDrive starts at $65,595 USD while the 2013 Audi S6 has an MRSP of $72,795 USD).

UK sales began in May, with a starting price of £53,995 for the saloon, and £56,050 for the Avant.